Covering The Photo Beat: Backdrops

APR Props Soft Spin Fabric Background
The APR Soft Spin Fabric Background is a seamless, washable backdrop that comes in six colors. Available in 30-, 60- and 90-foot widths, the woven stretch combined with the silkiness helps to eliminate wrinkles when hanging. While the fabric is designed to layer while draping and swooping, you can hang it straight for a flat, solid look as well.

Calumet Portable Background System & Kits
Designed for location, portrait, and event photographers, this background system is economical and highly versatile. It features a unique X-frame that holds an 8x8-foot muslin background and mounts to a self-supporting stand. Weighing only 15 lbs, set up and break down is easy and takes just minutes to complete. Calumet offers a choice of 10 different muslin backdrops that can be purchased in kits or separately. The kits include a carry case and prices start at $229.99.

HDR Line Of Freedom Cloth From Denny
One of the newest additions to Denny Manufacturing’s “Freedom Cloth” backdrops is the HDR (High Dynamic Range) line. Photographers will save a lot of post-work time to achieve what is already present in the HDR line of Freedom Cloth backdrops. Thousands of designs are available that are well suited for use with senior, family, children, and bridal portraits. Freedom Cloth is wrinkle-free, machine washable, color fast, dryer/steamer safe and has a vibrant color rendition. It is also durable, rip resistant, and hangs without sagging in the center. The backdrop shown is CPM7126 Anastasia photographed by Jenny Hollis and Cliff Ranson (The Studio).

The Americana Backdrop
Drop It Modern recently added an eye-catching yet simple patriotic themed backdrop to their extensive line of products. The Americana pattern features bold 8” wide red and 5” wide white stripes on velvet-textured fabric. It comes with 4” hanging loops at the top and bottom and a sewn-in tag indicates which end is the top. Prices range from $97 to $537.

Orange Peel Backgrounds
Offering a new twist on an old idea, Orange Peel Backgrounds are peel and stick panels that can adhere to a variety of surfaces. Available in over 180 designs, the panels can be used to create corners, staggered walls, or floors, or can be used as traditional flat wall sets. These backgrounds are durable, lightweight, waterproof, and scratch resistant. The two-panel backgrounds are 7x8 feet and prices start at $129.

Owen’s Originals 3D Backdrops
“Softeez” 3D Full-Length Backdrops by Owen’s Originals are printed in a vertical format so the lower half of the background can be laid out on the floor for a true 3D look when shooting full-length portraits. The “Softeez” material wears like iron and is virtually wrinkle free. You can even wash it.

Photobacks Digital Backdrops
Photobacks offers a line of Digital Templates and Digital Backdrops for use with Adobe Photoshop or similar programs. All of these products can be downloaded from the Photobacks website or sent to you on a disc and are PC and Mac compatible. The high-resolution Digital Backdrops allow you to easily replace photo backgrounds, add texture and more with realistic results. Choices include professional studio replications, grunge, scenic, holiday, and seniors. Prices start at just $19.95.

Photo Pie Backdrops
Photo Pie offers realistic solutions that take you “on location” without having to leave the comfort and ease of your studio. Choose from hundreds of images that can be printed onto three washable, seamless, wrinkle-resistant types of cloth or print your own custom image for no extra charge. Prices start at just $45 and be sure to visit the Photo Pie website for free samples.

Simply Color Lab Canvas Backdrops
Simply Color Lab offers 100 percent canvas backdrops coated with a non-glare UV matte spray. Choose from single, twin, or triplet backdrops in various sizes and designs. Single offers one design, twin has two, and triplet has up to three backdrop designs. You can easily create wall and floor looks and there is an option to print wood molding directly onto any of the backdrops.

Savage Retro Collapsible Backdrop Kits
Savage is now offering their Retro Collapsible Background Kits to add that elegant vintage look to your background collection. Measuring 5x6 feet, these delightful retro patterns are made from high-quality matte fabric and are available in six colors. Each kit includes a two-sided 5x6-foot backdrop, a carry case, and an 8-foot aluminum background stand with a backdrop clip.

Silverlake Ultra Colorsmacks
Silverlake’s new Ultra Colorsmack Backdrops are equipped with a quick change touch-fastener system and feature a wrinkle-free, washable fabric that is durable enough for years of daily use. Silverlake utilizes a heavyweight yet soft-to-the-touch material in combination with incredible color saturation, depth, and dimension to create added realism in any portrait. These designs have been created to function well in a variety of indoor and outdoor locations. Ultra Colorsmacks are available in 10x10 and 10x20-foot sizes. Most of the 10x20 Ultra Colorsmacks have been specifically designed so that the photographer will have a complementary floor and backdrop, but by swapping the design end for end, will be able to achieve completely unique looks from the same backdrop. All products are backed with a 100 percent satisfaction guarantee.

StreetScape HDR Backgrounds
StreetScape Backgrounds offers high-resolution HDR backgrounds for photographers, designers, and web developers. The backgrounds are available for instant download via www.streetscapebackgrounds.com. Each background is a 12.48x18.72 300dpi file that is sold with a license for the purchaser. Backgrounds are used in composite photography, with the subject photographed in the studio and combined with your background choice, giving unlimited creativity to the project. Developed to save photographers time, the backgrounds are designed to change color or show different elements to give a custom look.

Fiji Beach Scenic From Studio Dynamics
Studio Dynamics is now offering their beautiful Fiji Beach backdrop. Featuring a stretch of ocean topped with a crystal blue sky, this image makes adding props and posing your subject easy. Available on canvas or muslin, the sizes range from 5x6 feet to 10x20 feet. The canvas backdrop comes mounted with a hole-drilled 1x2-foot piece of wood for use with a light stand or crossbar. The muslin version starts at 10x10 feet and hangs from a crossbar.

Superior Specialties Seamless Background Papers
Superior Seamless Background Papers are manufactured from a sustainable source and are highly prized for their quality and consistency of color and weight. These heavy paper backgrounds are wrinkle resistant, defect free, and available in a wide assortment of vivid shades with a non-reflective surface.

VB Optima Virtual Background System
Designed for the photographer who has very limited studio floor space, the VB Optima from Virtual Backgrounds enables the photographer to work in a smaller area by accommodating a wider-angle lens setting on the camera. This top-of-the-line virtual background system is perfect for both the studio and location photographer. A special case is available for easy transport and set up; it can take less than 2 minutes to set up the projector. The VB Optima includes a regular slide carrier plus two Six Shooter background carousels for instant background changes. The photographer can position the power supply on the camera support and can take full control with an exposure range from 7.5 ws to 250 ws in 1/10 f/stop units.

Backdrops And Floors By WHCC
WHCC offers more than 100 styles and colors of backdrops. Available in two sizes, 6x8 and 10x8 feet, the backdrops are printed directly on durable wrinkle-free polyester fabric. There are more than 50 styles of floors available in the following sizes: 4x8, 8x8, and 8x12 feet. The floors are nonslip, lightweight, and can be rolled up for easy storage or transport.